Improvement in centrifugal machines



8 Sheets-Sheet l. E. LANGEN.

6. D ...1 h G ow M 1.... n@ g u fl.. El. r. lTu n e Patented April 22,1879.

)Lm PKCTIJTHDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Y E. LANGBN. l Centrifugal-Machine. No. 214,670. Patented April 22,|879.

NPETEP5. PHOTCLUYHOGRAPHEH. WASHINGTON. D CY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. E.LANGEN.

Centrifugal-Machine. Patented Apil 22,1879.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETcE.

EUGEN LANGEN, OF COLOGNE, GERMANY.

IMPROVEMENT IN CENTRlFUGAL MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,670, dated April22, 1879; application filed December 23, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGEN LANGEN, of Cologne, Germany, 'have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of centrifugal machines in whichthe vertical shaft of the centrifugal drum is driven from below; and theobject of my invention is to so construct machines of this characterthat they may occupy less space than usual, and that there may be lessdanger from accidental bursting of the drum.

This object I attain by securing` the neck and step bearings for thedrum-shaft rigidlyr to the outer casing, and allowing the latter,together with the said shaft, bearings, and drum, to have a slightoscillating motion on the foundation-plate to .which the machine issecured, as more fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying. drawings, Figure l, Sheet l, is a vertical sectionof a centrifugal machine constructed according to my invention 5 Fig. 2,Sheet 2, a vertical section of a slightly-modilied form of machine; andFigs.'

Sand 4, Sheet 3, a vertical section and sectional plan, respectively, ofanother modification.

Referring to Fig. l of the accompanying drawings, M is the outer casingof the chamber, in which is contained the rotary strainerdrum A, securedto the upper end of the vertical shaft K, and carrying the usual balancerings Kl and suitable braking mechanism K2. The lower end of the shaftis adapted to a step, P, and carries, above the latter, the usualbelt-pulley D, driven from any suitable countershaft. The cylindricalcasing M is extended down below the cast-metal bottom R of theSirup-chamber, and is bolted or riveted to a plate, S, to which the stepP of the shaft K is firmly secured. The upper or neck bearing, H, of theshaft is cast in one piece with or secured to the bottom plate, R, ofwhich the outletbranch r forms a part, so that the outer casing and thetwo bearings are rigidly connected to each other. The step P is madesemi-spherical at its lower end, which is adapted to a correspondingsocket, L, in the raised portion of the bed-plate G, while the outeredge of the plate S is connected to the bed-plate by bolts and nuts b,with intervening springs, B, preferably in the form of rubber blocks;hence the casing M, together with the bearings P and H and thecentrifugal drum and its shaft, can oscillate in the ball-and-socketbearing L, when the machine is in operation, to the limited extentpermitted by the springs B B.

The modification shown in Fig. 2 differs from the construction shown inFig. l only in the location of the outlet-pipe r and in the constructionof the step-hearing. In this case, in order that the machine may be usedfor heavy charges, the step P ot the drum-shaft is formed as athrnst-bearing-that is, a series of collars formed on the lower end ofthe shaft K are adapted to corresponding grooves in the bearing P, thewear being thus distributed over a number of surfaces.

In the .modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the construction of thelower part of the casing or frame andthe manner of connecting the casingto the stationary frame differ from those described above. The step P is`rigidly connected to the bottom It of the casing M by pendent bracketsIt', which I prefer to cast in one piece with the said bottom 'R andneckbearing H. The socket L for the step may, in this case, either formpart of a foundation-plate on the lower door or may be supported bystrong pendent arms from the rin g-framc S ,which carries the springs B,and which may form part of a floor, into which the lower part of themachine is sunk. The casing M is connected to the springs B by means oflinks C, sonas to al low the machine to have a slight oscillatingmovement on the socket L. In this case also the drum-shaft is formed asa thrust-bearing; but the part k of the shaft, which carries thecollars, is a separate piece from the shaft, and is connected theretoand is causedto turn therewith through the medium of a grooved andfeathered plate, Q, Figs. 3 and 5. In the upper surface of the part lois formed a transverse groove, in which fits a rib or feather on theunder side of the plate Q, and on the upper surface of this plate isformed a groove at right angles to the feather on the under side. Tothis groove in the plate Q is adapted a feather on the bottom of themain shaft K,'so that if the axis of the Shaft K should not coincideaccurately with the axis of the part k in the bearing, as indicated inthe detached plan, Fig. 6,'

the two parts will continue to Vturn together without causing any sidestrains on said bearings.

In machines of this class, as usually constructed, the outer casing hasbeen rigidly connected to therbase, while the upper or neck bearing forthe drum-shaft has been connected to the frame through an elasticmedium, so that the drum-shaft and bearingA might oscillate to a limitedextent within the outer casing, and hence a comparatively vlarge spacewas necessary between the drum and casing to allow t'or thisoscillation. By constructing the machine in the manner described above Iobviate the necessity for this large space, and, by bringing the casin gclose to the drum, any

strain on the casing, in the event of the accidental bursting of thedrum, is greatly diminished. Thus, by making the casing of strongboiler-plate, it maybe made to serve as a protective casing.

I claim as my inventionl. In a centrifugal machine, the combination ofthe neck and step bearings of the drum-shaft with a oasin g, IVI,rigidly secured to the said bearin gs, and connected to thefoundationplate by yielding connecting devices, whereby the said casingand bearings may oscillate together on such foundation-plate, as setforth.

and with spring-connections between said plate and foundation, asdescribed.

5. The combination of theV drum-shaft K with bearing-piece k andconnecting-plate Q, as and for the purpose'speciied.

f In testimony that Iclaim theforegoing I have hereunto set my hand this7th day of October,

EUGEN Y LANGEN.

Witnesses C. PRANZEN, OTTO FERRER.

